20 Dec Alternative Delivery Projects
Three Clear Reasons Why
Contractors Want Orthos on Alternative Delivery Projects
FIRST: INSTALLATION IS FAR LESS PRONE TO CONSTRUCTION ERROR
- Installation of the Centurion™ monolithic underdrain system may be performed by personnel familiar with reinforced concrete construction, which should include most general contractors. Straight-forward PVC column and underdrain GRC panel formwork along with rebar and concrete are right down most every general contractor's alley. GRC panels may be easily cut to fit odd-sized filter geometries or out-of-square walls.
- In contrast, plastic block underdrains require highly experienced or expensive factory personnel for installation. On large projects, contractor crews cannot be rotated out without the new crew being well-trained also. Non-structural grout and mixtures must be carefully installed in tight spaces and without cold joints, or underdrain failure is likely.
- So, whether it is office equipment, a bottle of ketchup, or a filter underdrain, if it's hard to prepare for use, is it that great of a product?
SECOND: FEWER CONCRETE POURS
- Though H-Flume filter configurations with an upper and lower gullet are becoming more prevalent, center flume or front flume configurations have been the default arrangement for many engineers designing plastic block or folded sheet metal underdrains. Disregarding the gullet, these latter two types of configurations require four separate pours to construct the filter box.
- In contrast, an Orthos Centurion™ monolithic filter underdrain requires only two concrete pours for the filter box because its plenum makes a flume unnecessary. This formwork, labor, and time savings pays dividends to contractors needing straightforward construction on their project.
THIRD: FAR LESS TO ZERO WARRANTY ISSUES
- Startup and post-construction problems during the warranty period erase the thin margins contractors build into their bids. Installing equipment with a long history of failures unnecessarily adds risk, increases the likelihood of legal disputes, and drags out projects, potentially into liquidated damages
- On alternate delivery projects with at least one "O" (design-build-own, design-build-operate, or design-build-own-operate), "the chickens will come home to roost" when installing equipment known to fail prematurely
- Instead, when installed, monolithic reinforced concrete underdrains will last likely a century. In 21 years and 200 filter installations, ORTHOS has never, once, ever, had a filter underdrain failure and we want to continue this trend on your project.
Resilient – Reliable – Sustainable – Permanent
Get In Touch With Orthos
Remember Orthos’ HUGE life cycle cost benefits– At the end of the filter’s life cycle (~25 years), in contrast to a complete plastic block or folded sheet metal underdrain overhaul, nozzles are simply replaced
potentially saving $Millions.